Why a quick lunchtime run could transform your life

Spend all day sitting at your desk? Popping out for a quick jog can have a dramatic affect on your health, improve your fitness and boost your mood.

The perils of a sedentary lifestyle are well reported and obesity is on the rise. Just two hours of sitting time has been linked with a 17 per cent increased risk of cardiovascular health issues, so if you sit at a desk all day long the health implications can be immense.

Fortunately all it takes is a bit of exercise and a few extra greens in your diet and you can turn your life around. Struggling to fit it all in? Go for a run at lunchtime and it might just save your life.

Get moving

International research has produced compelling evidence that sitting for more than four hours a day can lead to increased risks of heart disease, obesity, dementia and even cancer. The good news is according to a new study published in the Lancet, just one hour of physical activity a day can offset the harmful effects of sitting at a desk for eight hours.

The study found that an hour of moderate intensity exercise, such as brisk walking or cycling, was enough to eliminate the ill effects of sitting for long periods. Turn that into a run and just imagine what you could achieve. To estimate how long you spend sitting per day and start making positive changes, visit getbritainstanding.org

Reduce stress

Stressed out at work? With long hours, busy lives and 24-hour access to emails via smart phones, chronic stress is on the rise. Exercise has been shown in countless studies to effectively treat stress, depression, anxiety and even the common cold. It’s the best universal remedy and can transform your health.

If you’re struggling to meet deadlines and feeling bogged down by work, pull on your trainers and hit the road this lunchtime. Taking the time out to exercise will reduce your stress levels, clear your head and enable you to face the afternoon with confidence.

Mood boost

When you go for a run your body releases endorphins that dramatically improve your mood. All it takes is a quick blast to make you feel revitalised and ready to take on the world. If you pop out for a run at lunch the added benefits of daylight and a change of scene will also contribute to a feeling of wellness. Plus you’ll return to your desk feeling much more accomplished for making the effort to go if you only had a short window of time.

Weight loss

It’s difficult to stay active when your job requires you to sit at a desk all day. Research has shown that sitting for just a few hours causes your body to stop making a fat-inhibiting enzyme called lipase, so your office based job could be responsible for your jelly belly!

Get up and walk for just two or three minutes every hour to keep your body ticking over and go for a run at lunchtime. That small window of exercise can have a positive impact on your fitness and help you maintain a healthy body weight. Looking for weight loss tips? Alongside your lunchtime run a few small lifestyle changes should do the trick.